Colossians 3:1-3

Colossians 3:1-3

Thoughts from Chelsee Sanchez

Dive Deeper

Captive- Swipe
Slide

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Colossians 3:1-3

Captive- Behing The Scenes
Slide

The book of Colossians is unique in that Paul didn’t personally establish the church of Colossae. He had never personally met the people of Colossae, but he was friends with the person who did. While in prison, this friend visited Paul to give him an update on the Colossians.

Slide

The Colossians were rocking their walk. They were faithful to following the ways of Jesus, but they had many pressures surrounding them. First, they were surrounded (and formerly followed) in the ways of mystical polytheism – the worship of many gods. They were also being pressured by the Jewish Christians to observe all of the laws of the Torah. But Jesus triumphed over these other gods and so the Colossians had no obligation to them. Additionally, Jesus completely fulfilled the law of the Torah, lacking nothing so nothing needed to be added. Giving into either of these pressures would be a compromise to the faith they stepped in to.

Slide

Added to the above pressures, the city of Colossae was filled with distorted sexuality and destructive speech – sound familiar? They were just steps away (mere babies) from the old humanity that they were a part of, moving toward the new humanity of mercy, generosity, forgiveness, and love. So, Paul encouraged them to seek and set their minds on the things above.

Slide

You know how I love digging into the Greek meanings of words, and here’s what I found for seek and set – these are very active words. In fact, they actually mean keep seeking and set your mind. This is an active craving of the things above and a very deliberate directing of your mind. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul tells us, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

Captive- Make It Real
Slide

But what does this actually look like? How do we keep seeking, direct our minds, and take captive our thoughts and bring them under control? And really why is it important? You see, like the Colossians, we are surrounded by alluring things, thoughts, and ideas that draw us away from the abundant life we have in Christ. We get drawn into the idea that success looks like more money, a nicer car, a bigger home. Or we insist that we can do all things through “me” who gives me strength. We are fooled by the idea that we can be our own gods and do our own thing by a world that lives by the “you do you, boo” mentality.

Slide

Man, this creates so much pressure on us. When we don’t measure up, when we don’t keep up with the Joneses, when we fail at being our own gods or at any of those things we were never designed to do on our own, we fall into a pit of despair.

Slide

As followers of Christ, we are indwelled by His very Spirit. We have the power of the Creator of all things living IN us. Why, oh why, would we push that power aside and try to rely on ourselves? Because we live in a fallen world, a world ruled by dark forces. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

Slide

So in light of this, we need to do our work. We need to keep seeking the things above. We need to direct our minds to things of God. We need take captive every thought that goes against the Truth of God. And the cool thing is, we don’t have to do it in our own power – we have the power of the Maker of heaven and earth living inside of us. We have the Holy Spirit who is waiting to guide, direct, and empower us to live differently. Christ has given us His very Word to go to, and He sends us people to help along the way.

Slide

Isn’t our God so so good?!? He doesn’t call us to anything He has equipped us for. So, what thoughts do you need to take captive? Where has the world called you away from God? What has you distracted and living less than Jesus designed for you?

Captive- End in Prayer
Slide

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Spirit. Thank You that You have empowered us to resist the draw of the world around us and that You do so because You want us to have abundant life in You. Father give us strength, guidance, and discernment for the things You are calling us to. In the mighty name of Jesus – Amen!!

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“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” 

Colossians 3:1-3

Behind the Scenes

The book of Colossians is unique in that Paul didn’t personally establish the church of Colossae. He had never personally met the people of Colossae, but he was friends with the person who did. While in prison, this friend visited Paul to give him an update on the Colossians.  

The Colossians were rocking their walk. They were faithful to following the ways of Jesus, but they had many pressures surrounding them. First, they were surrounded (and formerly followed) in the ways of mystical polytheism – the worship of many gods. They were also being pressured by the Jewish Christians to observe all of the laws of the Torah. But Jesus triumphed over these other gods and so the Colossians had no obligation to them. Additionally, Jesus completely fulfilled the law of the Torah, lacking nothing so nothing needed to be added. Giving into either of these pressures would be a compromise to the faith they stepped in to.  

Added to the above pressures, the city of Colossae was filled with distorted sexuality and destructive speech – sound familiar? They were just steps away (mere babies) from the old humanity that they were a part of, moving toward the new humanity of mercy, generosity, forgiveness, and love. So, Paul encouraged them to seek and set their minds on the things above.   

You know how I love digging into the Greek meanings of words, and here’s what I found for seek and set – these are very active words. In fact, they actually mean keep seeking and set your mind. This is an active craving of the things above and a very deliberate directing of your mind. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul tells us, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” 

Make it Real

But what does this actually look like? How do we keep seeking, direct our minds, and take captive our thoughts and bring them under control? And really why is it important? You see, like the Colossians, we are surrounded by alluring things, thoughts, and ideas that draw us away from the abundant life we have in Christ. We get drawn into the idea that success looks like more money, a nicer car, a bigger home. Or we insist that we can do all things through “me” who gives me strength. We are fooled by the idea that we can be our own gods and do our own thing by a world that lives by the “you do you, boo” mentality.  

Man, this creates so much pressure on us. When we don’t measure up, when we don’t keep up with the Joneses, when we fail at being our own gods or at any of those things we were never designed to do on our own, we fall into a pit of despair.  

As followers of Christ, we are indwelled by His very Spirit. We have the power of the Creator of all things living IN us. Why, oh why, would we push that power aside and try to rely on ourselves? Because we live in a fallen world, a world ruled by dark forces. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”  

So in light of this, we need to do our work. We need to keep seeking the things above. We need to direct our minds to things of God. We need take captive every thought that goes against the Truth of God. And the cool thing is, we don’t have to do it in our own power – we have the power of the Maker of heaven and earth living inside of us. We have the Holy Spirit who is waiting to guide, direct, and empower us to live differently. Christ has given us His very Word to go to, and He sends us people to help along the way.   

Isn’t our God so so good?!? He doesn’t call us to anything He has equipped us for. So, what thoughts do you need to take captive? Where has the world called you away from God? What has you distracted and living less than Jesus designed for you?  

Colleen McGeorge

Colleen McGeorge

ACF Devo team

End in Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Spirit. Thank You that You have empowered us to resist the draw of the world around us and that You do so because You want us to have abundant life in You. Father give us strength, guidance, and discernment for the things You are calling us to. In the mighty name of Jesus – Amen!! 

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